Braided Cardamom Rings Recipe

Braided Cardamom Rings Recipe photo by Taste of Home

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Most Christmases, I'll take one of my rings to my husband's family and one to my family. Of course, I make sure to keep enough at home, too. They look so festive with the colorful cherries. Bill and I have two girls, 8 and 2. -Jo Learman, Caro, Michigan

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Braided Cardamom Rings Recipe

Prep: 30 min. + rising Bake: 30 min.

Yield: 32 Servings

30 30 60

Ingredients

2 packages (1/4 ounce each) active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water (110° to 115°)
2-1/2 cups warm milk (110° to 115°)
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 cup sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cardamom
1/2 teaspoon salt
8-3/4 to 9-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
LEMON ICING:
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/4 teaspoon lemon extract
3 to 4 tablespoons milk
Red and green candied cherries, halved, optional

Directions

In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Add the milk, butter, egg, sugar, cardamom and salt and 6 cups of flour; beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough.
Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
Punch dough down and divide in half. Divide each half into three portions. Shape each portion into a 24-in. long rope. Place three ropes on a greased baking sheet; braid. Form into a ring; pinch edges tightly together. Repeat with remaining dough. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes.
Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire racks.
For icing, combine the confectioners' sugar, extract and enough milk to achieve desired consistency; spoon over rings, allowing icing to drizzle down the sides. Decorate with cherries if desired. Yield: 2 coffee cakes.

Editor's Note: Rings may be iced and served warm if desired.

Nutritional Facts 1 serving (1 piece) equals 231 calories, 5 g fat (3 g saturated fat), 21 mg cholesterol, 93 mg sodium, 41 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 5 g protein.

Originally published as Braided Cardamom Rings in Country Woman November/December 1998, p29